‘Most the kids have uncles that are blackpowers’: Growing up in Pātea

“Just being in a small town there is obviously drugs and all that, so it’s trying our hardest to stay in school.”

Matthew Dixon and Raian Lal, 17 and 14 respectively, are students at Pātea Area School. They share an insight into life growing up in Pātea, South Taranaki which has a population of just over 1,100.

From shooting hoops at school at the weekend to eating their favourite chicken fillet pack from Pātea Dairy, see what these boys find challenging in their hometown.

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